In an emergency – especially if you think you're having a heart attack – time is critical. Call 911 immediately! Don't try to drive yourself to the hospital. Keep in mind that time is critical. About half of all heart attack victims wait two hours or longer before deciding to get help. The longer the wait, the more heart muscle damage can occur, and the higher your chances of not surviving the heart attack.

The Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Northwest Hospital uses state-of-the-art equipment to obtain information about the heart valves, chambers and blood vessels. Cardiac catheterization, or heart “cath,” is a procedure in which a very slender tube (catheter) is inserted into an artery and/or vein until it reaches the heart. In this way, doctors can gather highly specific information about your heart and coronary arteries.